<!--
  Fables de Phèdre
  SIMONIDE SAUVÉ PAR LES DIEUX , Fable 25

  Generated 2013-08-24T15:14:08+00:00

  @copyright 2013 Michel Corne
  @license   http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html GNU GPL v3
-->
<table class="fp-content">
<tr class="fp-first">
<td class="fp-left"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/la-fourmi-et-la-mouche.html">Fable précédente</a></div>
<div class="fp-title"><span class="fp-number">Livre 4, Fable 25</span><span class="fp-text">SIMONIDE SAUVÉ PAR LES DIEUX</span></div>
</td>
<td class="fp-right"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oYwUPKjq-GFcFKRsSg2WFQ?feat=directlink"><img class="fp-image" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MG2vpDSm-9w/Toh96j0CtyI/AAAAAAAAD3U/Den-JjI2ygY/s144/86-simonide-sauve-par-les-dieux.jpg" /></a><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/epilogue-eutyche.html">Fable suivante</a></div>
<div class="fp-title"><span class="fp-number">Liber IV, Fabula XXV</span><span class="fp-text notranslate"><span class="fp-correction" title="POETA  (orig.)"><span class="fp-difference">SIMONIDES A DIIS SERVATUS</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="SIMONIDES A DIIS SERVATUS  (texte subst.)"><span class="fp-difference">POETA</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">1&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">J'ai dit plus haut combien les lettres avaient de prix</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">2&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">parmi nous autres mortels, je vais maintenant parler des honneurs</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">3&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">que leur rendent les dieux eux-mêmes.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">1&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Quantum valerent inter homines litterae</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">2&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">dixi superius ; quantus nunc illis honos</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">3&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">a superis sit tributus <span class="fp-correction" title="et  (orig. avec err. de synt.)"><span class="fp-no-difference">[...]</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="...  (err. de synt. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">et</span></span> tradam memoriae.</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-middle">
<td class="fp-left"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">4&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Simonide, le poète que j'ai déjà cité,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">5&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">était convenu d'une certaine somme, pour composer l'éloge d'un athlète</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">6&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">vainqueur au pugilat. Il alla rêver dans la solitude ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">7&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">mais le sujet étroit et resserré, gênant son génie,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">8&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">il usa des licences poétiques,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">9&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et fit entrer dans son poème les deux astres,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">10&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">fils jumeaux de Léda, pour relever par ce parallèle la gloire de son héros.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">11&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">L'ouvrage fut approuvé, mais le prix réduit au tiers</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">12&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">de la somme convenue. Comme il demandait le reste,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">13&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">il répondit&nbsp;: «&nbsp;Demandez-le à ceux qui font les deux tiers du morceau.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">14&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Au reste, pour me prouver que vous n'êtes pas mécontent,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">15&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">promettez-moi de souper avec moi&nbsp;: je veux avoir aujourd'hui mes parents,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">16&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et je vous regarde comme du nombre.&nbsp;»</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">17&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Quoique trompé, et blessé d'une telle façon d'agir,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">18&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Simonide accepta pour ne pas se brouiller tout à fait avec lui.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">19&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Il vint à l'heure dite et prit place&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">20&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">le repas, égayé par le choc des coupes, était resplendissant,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">21&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et toute la maison en fête résonnait d'un joyeux tapage.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">22&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Tout à coup deux jeunes gens tout couverts de sueur</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">23&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et de poussière, à la figure d'une majesté</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">24&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">plus qu'humaine, chargent un esclave</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">25&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">de dire à Simonide de venir, qu'on l'attend,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">26&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">et qu'il est de son plus grand intérêt de se presser.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">27&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">L'esclave tout ému entraîne Simonide,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">28&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">qui n'a pas plutôt mis le pied hors de la salle,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">29&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">que le plafond s'écroule et écrase tous les convives.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">30&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Cependant les jeunes gens n'étaient plus à la porte.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">31&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">Dès que l'on apprit cette tragique histoire,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">32&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">on ne douta plus que ce ne fussent les dieux reconnaissants</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">33&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text">qui étaient venus sauver la vie à leur poète.</span></span></span></td>
<td class="fp-right"><span class="fp-paragraph"><span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">4&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Simonides idem ille de quo retuli,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">5&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">victoris laudem cuidam <span class="fp-correction" title="pictae  (orig. avec f. d'orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">pyctae</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="pyctae  (f. d'orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">pictae</span></span> ut scriberet,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">6&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">certo conduxit <span class="fp-correction" title="praetio  (orig. avec f. d'orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">pretio</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="pretio  (f. d'orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">praetio</span></span>, secretum petit.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">7&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Exigua <span class="fp-manuscript" title="Afficher le manuscrit (édition paléographique)"
>[<a target="fppithoeanus" href="http://www.archive.org/stream/lesfablesdephdr00robegoog#page/n129/mode/1up">p.66</a>]</span> cum frenaret materia impetum,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">8&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">usus poetae moris est licentia</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">9&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">atque interposuit gemina <span class="fp-correction" title="Laede  (orig. avec f. d'orth.)"><span class="fp-difference">Ledae</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="Ledae  (f. d'orth. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">Laede</span></span> sidera,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">10&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">auctoritatem similis referens gloriae.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">11&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Opus adprobavit ; sed mercedis tertiam</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">12&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">accepit partem. Cum <span class="fp-correction" title="reliquam  (orig. avec f. de voca.)"><span class="fp-difference">reliquum</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="reliquum  (f. de voca. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">reliquam</span></span> posceret&nbsp;:</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">13&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">«&nbsp;Illi, inquit, reddent quorum sunt laudes duae.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">14&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Verum ut ne irate te dimissum sentiam,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">15&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">ad cenam mihi promitte ; cognatos volo</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">16&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">hodie invitare, quorum es in numero mihi.&nbsp;»</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">17&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Fraudatus quamvis et dolens injuria,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">18&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">ne male dimissam gratiam corrumperet,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">19&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">promisit. Rediit hora dicta, recubuit.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">20&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Splendebat hilare poculis convivium,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">21&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">magno apparatu laeta resonabat domus,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">22&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">repente duo cum juvenes sparsi pulvere,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">23&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">sudore multo diffluentes corpora,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">24&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">humanam supra formam, cuidam servulo</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">25&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">mandant ut ad se <span class="fp-correction" title="provocent  (orig. avec f. de gram.)"><span class="fp-difference">provocet</span></span><span class="fp-original" title="provocet  (f. de gram. corr.)"><span class="fp-difference">provocent</span></span> Simonidem ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">26&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">illius interesse, ne faciat moram.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">27&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Unum promoverat <span class="fp-manuscript" title="Afficher le manuscrit (édition paléographique)"
>[<a target="fppithoeanus" href="http://www.archive.org/stream/lesfablesdephdr00robegoog#page/n130/mode/1up">p.67</a>]</span> vix pedem triclinio,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">28&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">homo perturbatus excitat Simonidem.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">29&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Ruina camerae subito oppressit ceteros ;</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">30&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">nec ulli juvenes sunt reperti ad januam.</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">31&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">Ut est vulgatus ordo narratae rei,</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">32&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">omnes scierunt numinum praesentiam</span></span> <span class="fp-line"><span class="fp-number">33&nbsp;</span><span class="fp-text notranslate">vati dedisse vitam mercedis loco.</span></span></span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="fp-last">
<td class="fp-left"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/la-fourmi-et-la-mouche.html">Fable précédente</a></div></td>
<td class="fp-right"><div class="fp-chapter"><a href="/2011/09/epilogue-eutyche.html">Fable suivante</a></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="fp-footer">
<div class="fp-translator">Traduit par M. E. Panckoucke, 1864</div>
<div class="fp-la-fontaine">Lire la fable de La Fontaine&nbsp;: <a href="http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Simonide_pr%C3%A9serv%C3%A9_par_les_dieux">Simonide préservé par les Dieux</a></div>
</div>